Palau played host to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting this week, the region's premier political summit.

WHAT WAS DECIDED?

* Leaders issued the 'Belau Declaration': an "urgent and inclusive climate action" to keep global warming within reach of 1.5 degrees

* Leaders did not condemn, but "registered concern" at the July missile test in China in a litmus test of the region's geopolitical leanings

* A new police ministers ministerial meeting will take place each year, joining the annual meetings of leaders, treasurers, foreign ministers and women's ministers

* External powers will be categorised into two tiers, with smaller nations unlikely to be allowed at future leaders meetings

* Taiwan will keep its specially designated position as a "development partner"

* The line-up of future hosts is set: New Zealand in 2027, Nauru in 2028, Marshall Islands in 2029, Vanuatu in 2030, and French Polynesia in 2031

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED?

* Palau Preident Surangel Whipps launched a $2 billion prospectus for funding energy projects in the Pacific to make the region 100 per cent renewable-powered

* The Pacific Resilience Facility treaty came into force, having received $US162 million of pledges towards a year-end goal of $US500 million. More pledges are expected at next month's pre-COP meeting

* Fiji revealed the leaders and ministers planning to attend that pre-COP meeting, prompting a political backlash in Australia

* China protested the enhanced presence of Taiwan at the summit

* The UNEP report showing the world will overshoot 1.5 degrees of warming prompted disappointment and outrage from Pacific leaders

* Australia pledged $600m towards "Waqa Moana": a trans-national crime fighting partnership

* Australia also announced spending on a solar panel farm in Palau, and supporting Pacific athletes on the road to the Brisbane Olympics

* The US and New Zealand announced a $US60 million investment in a Cook Islands port expected to be used for deep sea mining

* In total, the US promised $US150 million, including funds for fuel security measures

* Leaders from six nations - Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu - did not attend for a variety of reasons

* New Zealand, whose own leader made just a flying visit for Thursday's leaders retreat, blamed some absences on foreign interference

* Vanuatu lodged an application to the International Court of Justice claiming sovereignty over a France-claimed pair of islands

Australian Associated Press